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National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

with Hydeia Broadbent.

According to www.blackaidsday.org more than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States, African-Americans account for more new HIV infections, AIDS cases, people estimated to be living with HIV disease, and HIV related deaths. Even though African-Americans make up 13% of the US population, they account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV and AIDS.

At birth, Hydeia Broadbent fell into this category when she was diagnosed as having a congenital HIV condition. At the age of three, she was diagnosed as HIV-positive with advancement to AIDS. The prognosis was that she would not live past the age of five. Now at the age of 26, Hydeia spends her time spreading the message of HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention by promoting abstinence, safe sex practices (for people who choose to have sex) and "Knowing Your HIV/AIDS Status". Later this year she will launch a campaign entitled, "A Day Without," which promotes no contact with the opposite or same sex for 24 hours of introspection and self-confidence building.

After appearances spreading her message on national television programs including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "20/20," "Good Morning America" and more she joins JimmyJazz.com to honor National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at African-Americans in the United States and the Diaspora. Read on for Hydeia's important message of combating complacency, the media's responsibility in preventing HIV/AIDS cases and what safe sex really means.

On the present state of complacency:

I feel like America has become too complacent because people are not dying at an alarming rate. I feel bad about this generation because when I grew up there were campaigns and celebrities doing events. Now we are complacent because we have medicine and people think they can just pop a pill and be okay. But many can't afford that medication and depend on the government. With the bad economy governments are doing cutbacks and many are not receiving their medication. We need to educate ourselves and use our voices to talk about what's going on in the black community.

On how the media promotes irresponsible sexual behavior:

There is no substance in music anymore. The music tells you it feels good but never talks about consequences. While some of us are smart enough not to follow the words or rhymes of music some young people don't get it and think it's okay. They see it on TV so feel it must be acceptable.

On practicing not just safe sex but safer sex:

When we talk about sex we can protect ourselves and say no strings attached but one person always gets attached and feelings become involved. So even if you're using protection you have to ask yourself if the people you're sleeping with is a reflection of how much you value yourself. You have to ask yourself why don't I value my body enough to just have sex with one person? What is this saying about my state of mind and how I feel about myself?